Supreme Court delves into constitutionality of minimum coverage provision of health care law

Amy Brighton from Medina, Ohio, who opposes health care reform, rallies in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, Tuesday, March 27, 2012, as the court continues arguments on the health care law signed by President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Under
the new health care law, dubbed "Obamacare" by Republicans, taxpayers who don't
purchase health insurance would have to report that omission on tax returns for
2014 and would pay a penalty along with federal income tax on returns due by
April 2015.

A
New York Times article breaks down today's argument into two scenarios.
According to the report, the court must decide whether to frame the case in the
context of individual liberty or of the response to a national crisis in the
health care market.

The
court primarily addressed the issue of whether the penalty is a tax during
Monday's proceedings. If the court deems the penalty a tax there is already a
19th century law that dictates tax cases can be brought only after
the tax is paid, which would render the case moot.

Wednesday
will be the last day of arguments, with those focusing on whether the entire
law will collapse if the individual mandate section is ruled unconstitutional
and if states can be forced by the federal government to expand Medicaid costs
to those low-income families that don't typically qualify for Medicaid
benefits.

A
decision is expected by late June, which could affect an already contentious
presidential election in which all of President Barack Obama's Republican
challengers oppose the law and promise its repeal if the high court hasn't
struck it down in the meantime.